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2020 Private Sector Off-Payroll working & IR35 – AS CLEAR AS MUD?

So, at last we have some clarity on the introduction of the off-payroll working rules – otherwise known as IR35 - into the private sector. Or do we? The Chancellor announced in the Budget that, to bring the private sector in line with the public sector, businesses will become responsible for assessing an individual’s employment status. However, ...

Are procurement teams 2020 ready?

Back in 2012, Deloitte produced a report outlining what procurement needed to do to transform itself by 2020. Deloitte’s report at the time suggested that procurement was a service provider, an integrator and was building sustainable transformation through category leadership, advanced sourcing and performance tracking. The vision for 2020 was a...

What Next for the Procurement Skills Agenda?

According to a recent Raconteur report in The Times on the future of procurement, the job of a CPO does not feature widely in children’s lists of the top ten things they want to do when they grow up. Hardly surprising I hear you say, but a CPO is arguably one of the most varied and challenging jobs in business – especially given the evolving nat...

Crown Commercial Service is attracting the brightest and the best from the private sector - here’s why….

Designing a world class strategy, significantly shaping and influencing markets with a multi-billion pound spend, providing strategic category direction and creating centres of expertise and excellence. These are just some of the activities carried out by specialists working at the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), an organisation that procures co...

Head of Procurement Interview - Daniel Cox

1st Executive's interview with the Automobile Association's Head of Procurement - Daniel Cox Following the appointment of Simon Breakwell (ex Uber & Expedia) as CEO in August 2017, The AA has commenced a complex transformation programme focused on revolutionising the customer experience through investing in and embracing new technologies. Procur...

DIFFERENTIATORS

Largest provider of Interims to the procurement and supply chain industry

Marketing

Experts in creating marketing packs to attract top tier candidates

Specialists

Largest independent in the UK procurement and supply chain market

about us

We are Europe’s largest genuinely specialist recruiter in the procurement and supply chain space. From upward track buyers through to C-Suite executives, many of the world’s largest brands choose to partner with us.

Meet the leadership team

Just like you, our people are genuine specialists in their field – their recruitment expertise is underpinned by real depth of market sector and discipline knowledge. Our senior team, profiled below, is supported by a team of researchers and experienced consultants.

We are the largest specialist in our sector but are still agile enough to be able to offer ambitious consultants a bespoke career path with an entrepreneur led business that fosters an environment for grown-ups.

We expect a lot from our people – but tend to attract and retain individuals who expect a lot from their careers too. We have opportunities for trainees who are interested in business and commerce for our Graduate Academy; experienced recruiters to join us as consultant/senior consultant or associate director level – and career changers who have a passion for people and networking.

our client testimonials

“People look for different things in a recruitment consultant. For me it is having an unlimited source of contacts and industry knowledge, being open and honest in their dealing with me, working for me and ensuring the opportunities they put me forward for are a hand in glove fit to my skills and experiences. Sally has all of the above behaviours and has every time worked hard with her team to source the right opportunities for me. Furthermore I can honestly say that Sally is just, and quite simply a very nice person to work with and has fulfilled my expectations of a trustworthy, honest, knowledgeable recruiter.”

Interim Procurement Unit Officer – The Home Office

“I have had the privilege of working with Tom in transitioning to a new position that offers the opportunity to grow both soft and hard skills that are marketable in the new economy. He is a consummate professional that communicates frankly, follows up timely and negotiates fairly.”

Procurement Director – Revlon

“I have worked with 1st Executive for a number of years now and have found them to be excellent at their job - both in terms of professionalism, and also how hard they work to find their candidates the right roles. They develop long lasting and high-value relationships which yield results. They are helpful, providing support across every step of the journey between identifying roles and matching them to the right profiles, and also when supporting interview prep, and on boarding candidates, and are always positive even when things get tough. I could not recommend 1st Executive highly enough.”

Senior Procurement Manager - Nike

“Sally is a very experienced and capable director who has a great deal of common sense, integrity and a strong understanding of procurement. It has been a pleasure to work with her.”

Interim Procurement Consultant HSBC

“I would just like to let you know that Samir has been excellent during the whole process of my recruitment phase. He has been very professional and prepared me for my interview with Inmarsat to a high level, which has led me to receiving a job offer in a very short space of time and which I have accepted. He has been thoroughly professional and a joy to work with.”

Sourcing Specialist – Inmarsat

“During my search for a new position, I searched internationally, more specifically in Western Europe. Tom was my key go-to contact in Europe to discuss opportunities I found as well as some he presented to me. He is trustworthy, very positive, and attentive to details, as well as well informed and knowledgeable about the professional areas I was looking for.”

Head of Procurement – FMC

“Kimberley is a recruitment consultant that goes that extra mile. She is a delight to deal with. I met with her in early January 2015. She listened and understood exactly what I wanted for my next role. It seems she also understood the profession, the personalities, and the cultures and therefore the match of the organisations she put me forward for. My success rate (therefore hers) was high and I ended up being in a position to choose. So refreshing for a Recruitment Consultant these days to consider matching the person and the organisation not simply the Buzzwords on the CV.”

Interim Procurement Consultant

“Jim's preparation and attention to the small details were exceptional and he guided me through the different steps which resulted in a very successful outcome, with the company making an offer the same day. I wholeheartedly recommend Jim as a point of contact if you are looking for an interim role.”

Former Purchasing Specialist – Novartis

“Samir was a great help in securing my latest position with Value Retail, from initially recommending the position and employer through to making sure that I was well informed and prepared for interviews throughout. He made a real effort to consider my career aspirations and motivations to make sure he found me a great match. Not only that, but he is a very pleasant chap as well! Highly recommended for great service and great personality!"

Procurement Operations – Value Retail

“All of the things that disappoints people about recruiters - Rebecca was none of these things. Quite the opposite. She managed my hunt with exceptional transparently, always acting, and sharing information with me, in my interests alone. Interview prep was through and the whole process was well-organised. This makes me confident I would get a real, end-to-end recruitment service if I hired 1st Executive, rather than the all-too common stumbling round in the darkness hoping to get lucky approach that many recruiters sadly take. I am so pleased with her approach I would highly recommend both Rebecca and 1st Executive to any colleague or friend.”